E-Books

In this updated introduction of Post-Lean Thinking and Practices, we look more closely at the cycle of disruption transforming industries around the globe. We also describe different variations of higher-order organizations.

The Value Stack model has been updated with a new layer, the Agent Layer, which accounts for intelligent agents facilitating purchasing decisions or even making them on our behalf. Industry transformation is a race to the top of the value stack.

Mature businesses are being disrupted by exponential technology, resulting in automation of routine work, shorter employee tenures, more dynamic freelance markets and new tools that make the traditional pyramid organization too slow and too expensive. We call this the Post-Lean Future, because traditional Lean Thinking no longer provides a way out.

Exponential technologies favor startups, which can grow and capture value with very modest capital requirements. So what can mature firms do? This e-book provides a big-picture history of how today’s organizations came to be, why they will no longer work well, and provides concrete suggestions for boards and CEOs who wish to retain innovative employees and create new shareholder value.

Note that this e-book was published before we changed our name to the Post-Lean Institute.